Hydraulic control valve



P. J. HARINCK mmuuc cou'mor. VALVE Sept. 26, 1950 Filed April 30, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. d fia w W .0 A

OIL SUMP Peter Sept. 26, 1950 I P. J. HARINCK 2,

. mmuuc conmoz. VALVE Filed April 30, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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Patented Sept. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 2,523,532 HYDRAULICCONTROL VALVE Peter J Harinck, Ferndale, Mich. Application April 30,1947, Serial No. 745,052

'Claims. o1.2'i7-s This invention relates to a control valve for ahydraulic system, and it has to do particularly with a valve of themetering type useful for governing the rate of flow of a hydraulicmedium to, in turn, govern the rate of operation of hydraulicallyactuated mechanism.

One place where the valve of the present invention is useful, is withhydraulically actuated mechanism for drilling into the earth. When themechanism is being operated, the drill bit, which is rotary, is advancedinto the earth hydraulically and the rate of advancement can be easilycontrolled and governed with a nicety by means of the control valve ofthe present invention. It will be appreciated, however, that thedrilling operation is carried on in step by step fashion in that, afterthe drill bit has been advanced a certain distance, a retracting motionof the driving and advancing mechanism is needed to take a new hold onthe drill rod to thus operate and advance the drill bit in the next stepof the operation. This retracting movement, which is also accomplishedhydraulically should be rapid, and

the present valve is so arranged and constructed as to provide for arapid retracting movement.

The invention aims to provide an improved hydraulic control valve forgoverning the rate of flow of the hydraulic medium and for providing onerate of flow under one condition and another variable rate of flow underother conditions. A further object is to provide an improved hydrauliccontrol valve for governing the flow of the hydraulic medium where aplurality of hydraulic flow lines or conduits are incorporated in thehydraulic mechanism.

A valve constructed in accordance with the present invention isdisclosed in the accompanying drawings:

- 2 on line 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing the direction controlling valve.

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view taken sub- I stantially on line 'I!of Fig. 2 illustrating a detent arrangement for the directioncontrolling valve.

While the valve of the present invention may be used with earth drillingmechanism as above mentioned, it is to be appreciated that the valve isnot limited to such use, but in order to provide a clear understandingof the valve and its performance, a hydraulic system and drillingequipment operated thereby is diagrammatically illustrated. in Fig. 2.There is a reservoir or sump I, for a hydraulic medium such as oil,which is moved by a pump 2 having an inlet pipe 3 extending into thesump. A pressure relief valve is at 4 which has a line 5,ior dischargingoil back into the sump if the pressure gets too'high. The pressure lineleading from the pump is shown at'l,

andit extends to jthezdirection control valve generally indicated at 8.Extending from the direction control valve is a return line 9 which goesback to the sump.

Leading from the direction controlvalve are two pressure lines II and I2which connect re- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a hy- I Fig.4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a developed nature takensubstantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the construction of themeter ing valve.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on line5-5 of Fig. 3 showing metering ports.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially spectively into the upperportions of two cylinders l3 and I4. Also two lines or conduits i6 andI1 extend from the lower ends of the cylinders l3 and I4 to the meteringvalve generally indicated at 20.

Suitable gauges 2i and 22 may belocated in the system and thecylindershave pistons therein with piston rods 23 connected toa yoke 24 forreciprocating a, rotary member 25 mounted in the yoke by means of asuitable bearing 26. Rotary member 25 is hollow and a drill rod 30extends therethrough, the same having a drill bit at its lower end, asshown at 3|, and member '25 has a chuck 32 forengaging the drill rod torotate the same. A driving gear 33 has its teeth meshingwith a gear 34which is, mounted upon a support 35 and which has a slidable connectionas by ,means of a spline or the like to the rotary member 25. It will beseen, from this through themeans of the cylinders and the pistonsmayrshift the rotary member 25 and thus urgethe drill bit 3| into theearth. It will also be appreciated that, ifthechuck is relieved from thedrill rod, thatthe rotary member. 25 and the chuck may be elevated so as'to take a new hold 3 on the drill rod 30. The above description of thedrilling mechanism is, of course, brief but will suflice to show how thevalve may be used. Such drilling mechanism is fully disclosed in myco-pending application Serial No. 717,128 filed December 19, 1946,titled Drilling Apparatus.

The direction valve 8 is a type of four-way valve having a casing 35with a rotary valve member 36 with ports 3'! and 38 therein. The valvebody has ports as shown in Fig. 6 for connection to the lines i and 9and a common outlet port 38 for the lines II and [2. The body has anextension 40 which is provided with a passage 4|. The body may be closedat opposite sides by plates 42 and 43 and the valve member 36 may have aprojecting shaft 44 provided with an operating handle 45. Functioningbetween the valve member and the plate 43 is a spring pressed detent 41(Fig. 7), the detent shifting with the valve member and operating in aslot 48 and the plate43, which slot isprovided with three depressions19.

The metering valve 20 (Fig. 4) has a body 50 which may be closed atopposite ends by plates and 52. The body has parts Mia and Ila forconnection to the conduit lines 16 and ll and a port Ma which connectsinto the passage 4| of the direction valve, and the two valves areplaced together as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The ports I6a and Ha connect into a sort of manifold passage 54 withports 55 and 56 leading into a cylinder or bore 51. A passage 58 isconnected with the cylinder by a port 59, this passage also connectingwith port Ma, and the body 50 is cored out to provide a circumferentialspace 50 which extends around a hollow projection 6| on the plate '52and which projection extends into the cylinder 51. The projection 6| isprovided with a number of ports 62 which leadinto a chamber 63 in'thehollow projection.

Positioned in the cylinder is a control member 65 having a shaft 66which extends through plate 5| and which is provided with an outsideoperating handle 51. The handle isassociated with a visible dial 68,with indicia, as shown, which may be used in adjustingthe valve. Asshown in Fig. 5, the control member 65 has a port which may beregistered with the port 55 and it has an interior hollow or passage 1]connecting into which is a small metering port 12. Joining the mouth ofthe port 12 on the exterior thereof is a peripheral groove type of port13, which extends circumferentially and is of gradually increasing depthas shown in Fig. 5, and of gradually decreasing width as shown by thedotted lines in Fig. 4.

A chamber of circumferential extent 16 is formed between the end of theextension BI and the member 65 and a. piston type valve member 80 isslidably positioned in the member 65 and in the extension 6|, and it hasa series of ports 8| in a position to communicate with the chamber 16.The port 56 registers with the chamber 15, as shown. A coil spring 83acts upon the member 88 and reacts against a shoulder 85 in the member65 and serves to push the end of the member 80 which is closed by ahead, as illustrated at 86, against the seat8'l in the extension 6|. Themember 80 also has a number of ports 88 which register with acircumferential enlargement forming a chamber 89- in the extension 6|.

The normal position of the parts is shown in Fig. 4 with the spring 83holding the member 4 against the seat 81. The rotary adjustable member65 may be adjusted in any desired position to meter the flow frompassage l2 through the groove 13.

In order to operate the mechanism so that the hydraulic medium isentered into the upper portions of the cylinders l3 and Hi, thedirection valve is adjusted to the position shown in dotted lines inFig. 3. The hydraulic medium then flows from the line I through thepassage 38 and into the common outlet 39 and thence to the upperportions of the cylinders through the lines I l and I2. This forces thepistons downwardly with the resultant displacement of the hydraulicmedium which lies below the pistons. The medium. or oil is displacedthrough the conduits l6 and H and into ports [6a and Ila and thence intothe manifold 54 (Fig. 4). Some of this oil attempts to flow, or at leastapplies pressure to, oil trapped in the passage 15, ports 8!, and thusincreases the pressure with which the member 88 seats on the valve seat8! so that there is no escape of oil. The oil, of course, fills theports 88 and the circumferential passage 89 but cannot escape. There isalso a free communication from the manifold passage 54 through ports 55and 10 into the interior of the member 65 and into the piston valve 80.

Such oil as does escape must flow through port 55, port 18 and into theinterior passage H. The escaping oil passes through the port 12 andthrough the metering groove 13 into port 59. The passage 58 is, ofcourse, filled with oil but the seating of the valve member 80 closesthe passage 58 at one end. Now, the rate of speed with which the drillbit is advanced into the earth by movement of the pistons is thusdetermined by the rate of discharge of the displaced hydraulic.

medium. And this rate can be variably adjusted by rotary adjustment ofthe member 65, by the handle 61 and the operator may employ the indiciavisible on the dial 68. The maximum rate of speed may be determined bythe size of the port 12, and from this maximum position, the rate may becut down slower and slower utilizing the tapered construction of themetering groove 13.

After the pistons have made their full stroke, and it is necessary toelevate them, to take a new hold on the drill rod 30 by the chuck 32,the direction valve 8 is swung clockwise as Fig. 3 is viewed to positionthe ports 31 and 38, as shown in Fig. 6. The hydraulic medium now flowsthrough port 38 and into the passage 58 in the metering valve. A smallamount of this oil may flow through the metering port and back into themanifold 54 in a direction just reverse to that above described, butmost of the oil will flow from the passage 58 into the chamber 60 andthe pressureon the head 88 of the member 80 and unseat the same. The oilnow flows into the chamber 89 through ports 88 into the member 80through ports 8| into the chamber l6 thence into the manifold 54. Fromthis point, the pumped liquid flows through lines l6 and IT to the lowerends of the cylinders to elevate the pistons with the displaced liquidflowing back through lines I l and i2 and into the common outlet 39(Fig. 6) thence through port 31 and then into the return line 9. Underthese conditions, it will be observed that there is substantially nometering of the flow because the member 80 is unseated from its seat 8'!and the liquid flows freely through the metering valve. This gives arapid movement to the pistons for elevating the same at which time thechuck 32 is manipulated. to take anew hold on the drill rod 30.--Following this, the direction valve 8 is swung back tothe Fig. 3position and the mechanism is in position to again force the drill bitinto the earth with a slow metered action. The three detent recesses mayindicate three positions of the direction valve. One extreme position isfor the drilling operation, the other extreme position is for theretracting action, while the intermediate position is one where theports 31 and 38 are out of register with all other ports in the valvebody to cutoff oil'flow.

Of course, all kinds of subterranean conditions are encountered, andwhen soft substance is encountered 'the projection of the drill bit maybe relatively fast while, when hard substance or rock is encountered,the valve 65 is adjusted to slowly meter the pumped liquid foraslow-advancement of the drill bit. Any time the drill bit meetsresistance which prevents it from advancing with a rate 'of speedcorresponding to' that of the adjustment of the member 65, the reliefvalve 4 which is of any conventional relief valve construction, relievesfor the discharge of the'liquid back to the sump through the line-5.

Thus, it will be seen that the metering-valve provides a simpleconstruction embodied in a single unit for metering the flow of liquidtherethrough in one direction and yet allowing a substantially free andunobstructed flow of liquid therethrough in the opposite direction.

I claim:

1. A control valve for a hydraulic system comprising, abody havingpassageways therein for connection into a hydraulic system for the flowof liquid hydraulic medium through the body, sometimes in one directionand sometimes in the opposite direction, a single cylinder formation inthe body, a rotatably adjustable member in the cylinder formationadjacent one end thereof, the cylinder formation and the adjustablemember having ports for the passage of liquid from one passageway in thebody to the other, at least one of said ports being a metering portwhich is variable with rotatable adjustment of the adjustable member,means forming a seat adjacent the'other end of the cylinder formation,port means for connecting one of the passageways directly to one side ofthe seat, a slidably mounted pistontype valve having a head arranged toengage said seat, said piston-type valve having ports thereincommunicating with the other of said passageways directly whereby thepressure of the liquid entering said last named passageway serves toseat the head of the piston-type valv on said seat to close the sameagainst flow of liquid through the body independently of the position ofthe said rotatably adjustable member, the head of the piston being actedupon by pressure of the liquid entering the other of said passageways toshift the piston-head off said seat for the flow of liquid therethrough.

2. A control valve for a hydraulic system comprising, a body havingfirst and second passageways for connection into a hydraulic system, acylinder formation in the body, ports in the cylinder formation forminga connection between the passageways, a rotatably mounted metering valvemember cooperating with said ports for metering the flow of liquid fromone passageway to the other through said ports, a hollow projectionextending into the cylinder formation from the end thereof opposit thecontrol valve member, a hollow piston-type valve having a head slidablymounted in the control member and projection, the control member andprojection being spaced apart to provide a chamber connecting into thesecond passageway, said hollow piston-type valve having a series ofports registering with the said chamber, said projection having aninternally enlarged portion forming a second chamber outside the pistonvalve, said piston valve having another series of ports registering withthe said second chamber, a seat for the piston head, a third chamber onthe side of the seat opposite the piston head, said third chamber beingin communication with the first passageway, whereby the pressure ofliquid entering the second passageway enters the piston-type valve andurges its head upon the seat so that the liquid passes only through themetering valve and whereby the pressure of liquid entering the firstpassageway and said third chamber shifts the head of the piston valveoff its seat for substantiall unobstructed flow of liquid from the firstpassageway through said chambers and the ports in the piston-type valveto the second passage.

3. Acontrolvalve for a hydraulic system comprising, a body having firstand second passage- ';ways for connectioninto a hydraulic system, a

cylinder formation in the body, ports in the cylinder formation forminga connection between the passageways, a rotatably mounted metering valvemember cooperating with said ports for metering the flow of liquid fromone passageway to the other through said ports, a hollow projectionextending into the cylinder formation from the end thereof opposite thecontrol valve member, a hollow piston-type valve having a head slidablymounted in the control member and projection, the control member andprojection being spaced apart to provide a chamber connecting into thesecond passageway, said hollow piston-type valve having a series ofports registering with the said chamber, said projection having aninternally enlarged portion forming a second chamber outside the pistonvalve, said piston valve having another series of ports registering withthe said second chamber, a seat for the piston head, a third chamber onth side of the, seat opposite the piston head, said third chamber beingin communication with the first passageway, whereby the pressure ofliquid entering the second passageway enters the piston-type valve andurges its head upon the seat so that the liquid passes only through themetering valve and whereby the pressure of liquid entering'the firstpassageway and said third chamber shifts the head of the iston valve offits seat for substantially unobstructed flow of liquid from the firstpassageway through said chambers and the ports in the piston-type valveto the second passage, and spring means for normally seating the pistonhead on its seat.

4. A control valve for a hydraulic system comprising, a body havingfirst and second passageways for connection into a hydraulic system forthe flow of liquid hydraulic medium through the valve, a cylinderformation in the body, rotatably mounted control valve positioned in thecylinder formation adjacent one end thereof, a hollow piston-type valvehaving a head, said piston-type valve being disposed on the axis of therotatable control valve, means forming a seat for the head of thepiston-type valve adjacent the opposite end of the cylinder formation,metering port means variable by adjustment of the rotary memberfor'varying the connection between the two passageways, port means forestablishing a direct communication between the first passageway and oneside of thelhead of the'ipistontype valve and for directly connectingthe second passageway to the interior of the pistontype valve, wherebyhydraulic medium enterin the second passageway seats the piston head onit seat and hydraulic medium entering the first passageway shifts thepiston head from'its seat independently of the position of the rotatablymounted control valve, and other ports in the piston-type valve forestablishing a flow connection betweenthe first and second passagewayswhen the head of the piston-type valve is off said seat.

5. A control valve for ahydraulic system comprising, a body having firstand second passageways for connection into a hydraulic system for theflow of liquid hydraulic medium through the valve, a cylinder formationin the body, a rotatably mounted control valve positioned in thecylinder formation, a, hollow piston-type valve having a, head, saidpiston-type valve being disposed on the axis of the rotatable controlvalve, means forming a seat for the head of the piston type valve,metering port means variable by adjustment of the rotary member forvarying the connection between the two passageways, port means forestablishing a communication between thefirst'passagewayiand one-side ofthe head of the piston-type valve and for connecting the secondpassageway to'theinterior of the piston-type valve, whereby hydraulicmedium entering the second passageway seats the piston head on its seatand hydraulic medium entering the first passageway shifts the pistonhead from its seat, other portsrin the piston-type valve forestablishing a flow connection between the first and second passagewayswhen the head of the piston-type valve is ofi said seat, and springmeans for normally seating the head'of the piston-type valve on saidseat.

PETER J. I-IARINCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 552,793 Stoner Jan. 7, 1896843,525 Frey Feb. 5, 1907 920,616 McKnight May 4, 1909 1,810,331Wilhjelm June16, 1931 1,947,637 Bolster Feb. 20, 1934

